Springboard



E. P. FINGAN SPRINGBOARD i Aug. s, 1933.

Filed June 17, 1952 INVENTOR.

A TTORNEY Patented Aug. 8, 1933 NUNITED STATES PATENT' OFFICE l l j `1,921,66iV V i u I f l SPRINGBOARD l Edwin Fingan,` San Francisco, ffCalif. ,l I Application June 17, 1932. Serial No. 617,792

s claims. (ci.` 27a-'616)' This invention relates to' a spring board for divers, and more particularly that type of a spring board having an adjustable fulcrum.

It is one object of this invention to provide an i .5 improved spring board for'ldivers.

Another Objectis to provide in a spring board having the above characteristics, novel means for moving the fulcrum point of the board to any desired position, which means will be readily accessible from a position on the board, and adapted to be operated by the driver.

A further object is to provide ina spring board having the. above characteristics, novel means for shifting the fulcrum point of said board, said means adapted to support the board at the same angle of inclination when the board is in operable position on the fulcrum, when the latter is in any of its several positions.

A still further object is lto providein a spring board having the above characteristics, novel means for locking the fulcrum` in any predetermined position. A still further object is to provide a 'spring board for divers that shall be efficient in operation, durable, simple in structure, and cheap of 3,5 manufacture.

The above and other objects will be made apparent throughout the further description of the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference characters rrefer to like parts. It is to be distinctly understood that the drawing is not a definition of the invention, this being defined by the appended claims.

In the drawingzl Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partly in `section, of a spring board embodying the invention.

. VFigure 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 3. 4

Figure 3 is a top plan view, partly in section, of 50 Fig. 2. n

Figure 4 isa detail view, partly in section, of the fulcrum locking means embodying the invention, and i i Figure 5 is a detail sectional view of thefulcrum member embodying the invention.

Athe fixed end of the board and the horizontal preferably provided with tubularconnections for 'encircling the horizontal member 17, whereby the Referring to the drawing, which illustrates one i form of the` presentdevice, there is provided a substantial foundation 10, which may consist ,ofY concrete, brick or any suitable lmaterial,having, embedded therein 'supporting member-sli, the 60 latter being provided withsuitabie `anchors 12 for rendering the supports y11 rigid and fixed within the foundation 10.y Each ofthe support-sil is provided at its' top with a flanged member 13 for registering and cooperating with a complementary flange member 14, the latter being rigidly connected with the supporting frame of the device. y

The spring board 15 is preferably supported at its fixed end by a pair of vertical supportsl which are spaced' apart and having their top ends connected'by a horizontal member l'l.V The *members 16` and 17` may be of any suitable materal, such as tubular members, and their cooperating ends may be rigidly connected vby `means of elbow connections 18. The fixed end' of the board may be rigidlyattached to the member 17 by means of a clamping bar 19 adapted to receive bolts 20, the latter extending through member 17, and clamped into ,fixed relation with the several cooperating members. i

Means are provided for preventingl lateral movement of the board, which consists of flanged members 21 positioned on the sides of the board and adjacent its fixed end, the fianges 21 being secured to the respectivesidesy of the board and to the horizontal member 17. The flanges 21 are board is permitted a limited turning movement about the horizontal member 17, but prevented from lateral movement with respect to the horizontalmember 17.

Novel means are provided for fulcruming the` boarduat any predetermined intermediate point. The fulcrummember 22 is slidably supported by a pair of inclined parallel `rodsor tracks 2,3. The tracks `23 are positioned at an angle from 21/2 to 3 degrees, and are supported by vvertical frame members 24 and 25, these frame members 24 and 25 being of such length as to support the track 23 at the desired angle of inclination.' Suitable elbow or connecting members 26 and 27, bent to theproper angle, are provided for connecting the cooperating ends of the supporting members 24 and 25 to the track 23. f

Meansare provided for sliding thefulcrum 22 along the track 23, which consist of sprocket wheels 28 and 29, and chain 30. VThe chain 30 is l connected or fixed to the bottom of the fulcrum member 22, as shown at 31, so that when the sprocket wheels are rotated, the fulcrum 22 is caused to slide along the track 23.

Means are provided for supporting and actuating the sprocket Wheels, and as shown, the sprocket wheel 28, which is here employed as the driving wheel, is frictionally mounted on a horizontal rod 32, the latter being turnably supported in bosses or projections 33, provided on the inner side Vof the connecting members 26; the bosses 33 having openings therethrough constituting bearing surfaces for the respective ends of the rod 32. The sprocket wheel 29, which is here employed as the driven wheel, is similarly mounted on a horizontal rod or shaft 34, the latter having its ends supported by bearing surfaces provided in bosses 35 provided on the connecting members 27, similar to that described in connectionwith rod 32. The sprocket wheel 29 is preferably rigidly iixed to the turnable shaft 34, while the sprocket wheel, 28 is preferably frictionally mounted on the shaft 32, the frictional mounting of the sprocket wheel 28 being desired as a matterof safety in case an operator attempts to operate the device whenthe later is in locked position. The frictional mounting of the wheel 28 may be of any desired construction which will suiiice in operating the fulcrum, Vbut give way under excess force in case the device is locked.

Means are provided for operating the sprocket wheel and chain for moving the fulcrum along the track, which means may consist of an actuatingwheel 36 rigidly fixed to one `end of the driving shaft 32, and it can be readily understood from the above that upon rotating the actuating Vwheel 36, the fulcrum will be caused to move along the track 23 in either direction that may be'desired.

Novel means are provided for raising the board clear of the fulcrum during the shifting operation of the fulcrum, the last said means consisting of a horizontal rod 37 turnably supported in bosses 38 provided on the outer sides of the connecting members 26. The rod 37 is provided with a pair of arms 39 spaced apart and having one of their ends rigidly fixed to the turnably mounted rod 37. The outer or free ends of the arms 39 are provided with openings adapted to receive the ends of a rod 40, the latter being provided with a roller 41 for engaging and lifting the board l5 freey of the fulcrum when the rod 37 isturned in a clockwise direction. A suitableactuated foot pedal 42.is provided and rigidly fixed to one end of the rod 37 and adapted tobev actuated by the foot of the operator. It will now be readily understood from the above, that when 'it is desired to shift the fulcrum point of the board it is only necessary for the operator or diver to remove his weight from the boardby standing on the foot pedal 42, which will cause the rod 37 to be rotated in a clockwise direction, and raising the board free from the fulcrum by means of the arms 39, rod 40 and roller 41, at which time the actuating wheel 36 may be turned tol move the fulcrum to the desired point. The board is preferably graduated to indicate the proper position of the fulcrum for divers of diiierent weights.

The fulcrum 22 is preferably provided with a novel supporting surface 43, which may be of hard rubber or any suitable cushioning material. YThe member 43 is preferably provided with a ymetallic inner member 44, the latter being adapted to receive screws or bolts 45 for rigidly fixing the member 43 to the fulcrum member 22, as shown. (See Fig. 5.)

Novel means are provided for automatically locking the fulcrum in position when the board is in operable position thereon. The locking means consists of a friction member 45 positioned around the rod 32, and adapted to be actuated by the foot pedal 42, rod 37 and connecting means 52. The connecting means 52 may consist of spring and toggle means for maintaining the means 45 in frictional contact with the rod 32 when the foot pedal is in normal position, and upon rotating the rod 37, by means of the foot pedal 42, the means 52 operate to release the friction of the means 51 about the rod 32, whereby the rod 32 is free to rotate. Any suitable'means, such as a spring member 54, is provided for biasing the rod 37 to its predetermined normal position.

It will be understood from the above, that when the fulcrum is moved along the incline track 23 to any predetermined point, that the board 15, when in operable position on the fulcrum, will be supported at the same degree of inclination regardless of the position of the fulcrum on the.A

track 23.

The present device is simple, efficient in operation, durable and especially adaptable for use in championship meets and resorts where accuracy is required. v

While I have illustrated and described but one form of the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that certain changes, modiiications, substitutions, additions and omissions may be made in the structure without departing from the spirit or scope of tne invention, as dened by the appended claims.

I claim:-

1. In a spring board for divers, a frame structure, means for securing one end of said board to said frame, an inclined'track, a fulcrum member mounted on said track and adapted to support said board at predetermined intermediate points, and means for moving said fulcrum member along said track.

2. In a spring board device, a frame, means for rigidly fixing one end of said board to said frame, said frame including an inclined track, a fulcrum member carriedv by said track and ros adapted to move therealong, said fulcrum member adapted to support said board at predetermined intermediate points, means for raising Said board free of said fulcrum member, and means for moving said fulcrum along said track.

3. A claim in accordance with claim 2 wherein- Y.

means are provided for preventing said fulcrum from movement along said track so long as said fulcrum is in supporting relation with said board,

and automatically permitting movement of said fulcrum along said track when said fulcrum is not in supporting relation with said board.

4. In a spring board device, means xedly supporting one end of said board, fulcrum means for supporting said board at predetermined intermediate points, means for shifting the fultaining said board at a constant angle of incli-` thereto, said supporting surface comprising an arcuate shaped metallic member, said metallic member being provided with a casing of cushioning material such as rubber.

8. In a spring board device, means for xedly supporting one end of the board,fa fulcrum member, means for movably supporting the fulcrum member, and means for adjusting the same along the board to support the board at predetermined intermediate points and at a constant predetermined angle of elevation. t

EDWIN P. FINIGAN.

DISOLAIM ER 1,921,664;.-Edamln P. Fnfigan, San Francisco, Calif. SPRINGBOARD. Patent dated August 8, 1933. Disclaimer filed March 22, 1939, by the patentee. Hereby enters this disclaimer to claims 1, 5, and 8 of said specication.

[Oficial Gazette April 18, 1939.] 

